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Riverside here. Replaced my trusty Hughes SD-DVR80 with a THR22-100 this afternoon. They had to replace my ancient dish with a "Slimline" unit.My system is having the same 90% issue. So far I've let it try a half-dozen times and I've noticed it is different each time. They number at the upper left sometimes count up, sometimes they do not. For example, right now it is stuck at 90% and the numbers at the top are 2/4/85/20. In reaching this number the 85 incremented while the 20 actually counts up to about 40 and then goes back to a lower number a few times through the process. During a previous sequence the number started at 2/1/1/x. When it starts with that it does not increment as the percentage increases to 90.

I'm going to keep track of these numbers. They appear to be versions or patches and may be relevant. I have not called DirecTV yet, getting this receiver at all was tricky and i don't want it taken away!

Thanks,-James

Those numbers are stages of reprogramming certain sectors of flash chip ...

The tech is supposed to show up this morning. Same here with those changing values in the upper left. Obviously no fix from dtv. I won't let the field tech take my box because I think that dtv had better fix this soon or this is going to really cause some heartburn for them. But odd that they have not figured it out yet. My guess is most everyone with this box as of 12/8 release is having the same issue.

If the tech is able to do something... great but I kind of doubt it. I know our friends at DIRECTV are looking into this from the other end, to make sure everything is ok with the software that is being sent up to the satellite.

Opinions expressed by me are my own and do not necessarily reflect
those of DBSTalk.com, DIRECTV, DISH, The Signal Group, or any other company.

You are right, the tech could not do a thing. In fact, my guess is DTV is going to have to replace all the THR22s they shipped with new ones that have the update already on board. Just a hunch, but that's what I think is going to happen. I have no doubt that anyone who got the THR22 direct from DTV, ordered on 12/8, has a malfunctioning box, and no amount of tweaking, even at the satellite, is going to fix it. Let's just say it's an impression, and of course I could be wrong. I think DTV is going to have to do a "recall" of sorts, in which they replace the original boxes with ones that have 018A already flashed. And techs will be the ones getting them, and they will not be user-replaceable.

I am guessing, of course, but to me, this is a major snafu on DTV's part. They made a big PR announcement about the HD Tivo boxes, and now this? Has this ever happened with any HRXX releases?

I am guessing, of course, but to me, this is a major snafu on DTV's part. They made a big PR announcement about the HD Tivo boxes, and now this? Has this ever happened with any HRXX releases?

The HRxx certainly had it growing pains in the early days.

One thing to keep in mind though, Tivo writes the software, DirecTV just pushes out what Tivo sends them. So I'm not sure how to blame DirecTV much on this other then their additional QA didn't catch it (Tivo's QA certainly should have). I guess it all depends on how much additional QA DirecTV does over what Tivo does.

One thing to keep in mind though, Tivo writes the software, DirecTV just pushes out what Tivo sends them. So I'm not sure how to blame DirecTV much on this other then their additional QA didn't catch it (Tivo's QA certainly should have). I guess it all depends on how much additional QA DirecTV does over what Tivo does.

Not sure why this is Tivo's fault. Can't agree there. In the end, Directv owns the box in the sense that I ordered it from them, not Tivo. They are the ultimate "buck stops here" spot. It's the "pushing out" that seems to be the issue. The tech indicated that the only fix would be on the hardware, not coming via satellite. I guess the issue is who ships the box, and was the FW download tested prior to release.

Not sure why a limited release would be any different in terms of the box being ready for prime time or not (in terms of it working as advertised). I believe DTV just made a mistake, and if they fix it quickly, fantastic. If not, well, we will see.

Did anyone on DBSTalk who has used the THR22 know what firmware was on it? To be honest, if the darned thing wasn't trying to force the FW upgrade, it would work perfectly. Not sure what the upgrade is all about, but when the THR22 works, it works well (so far at least). It's just the 90% "choke" that is making it a problem. Otherwise, it's pretty much what Mr. Sweet says it is.

UPDATE:Just as a data point, but I noticed that since the tech left (he did nothing in terms of changing any settings, etc.), I have had the Tivo box running - not on record mode - all day, just for kicks. So far, it has not spontaneously started the FW update process, which used to happen within, oh, 15-20 minutes every time the machine was operating (without being in record mode). Starting to wonder of DTV has somehow turned off the forced download. Is that possible? The FW is still listed as 0178, so it has not upgraded. That would seem like the good short-term fix, though not sure now if they will even try to get 018A on the boxes or not.

Starting to wonder of DTV has somehow turned off the forced download. Is that possible? The FW is still listed as 0178, so it has not upgraded. That would seem like the good short-term fix, though not sure now if they will even try to get 018A on the boxes or not.

Yes, I believe they have. I woke up this morning and the box was showing TV programming (not the update screen as it usually did). I believe they are working on pushing it when they fix the 90% stoppage problem.

I got my THR22-100 today with 0178 and happened to be fooling with it at 1am PST when it asked if I'd like to update the software. This took me to the familiar DirecTV download screen which I've seen hundreds of times. It then proceeded to the download and install 018A; while I was waiting I found this thread! Looks like I missed all the fun...

My box arrived tonight and I just installed the update. My activation was a nightmare but at least the update worked. I'm re-learning the TiVo interface again. The remote is cheaper than my old DirecTiVo remote was but the same layout more or less. I don't see a way yet to do any of the home media link type features mentioned in the networking section of the settings. There seems to be much less info available about content than my DirecTV DVR showed (Cast, Crew, original air date etc). I forgot how TiVo turns off the picture and sound completely while you fiddle with Season Pass where the DirecTV DVR lets you continue to hear the program. In general I see very little progress or improvement over my old SD DirecTiVo. I was hoping there would be improvements. With HD you would expect much more efficient use of all that screen real estate. The DirecTV DVR isn't stellar but it is certainly better than this unless I have yet to find some settings I missed. The DirecTV box allows you to see a small rendition of the program while the rest of the screen shows the guide or other stuff and it almost never kills the sound. It's very disconcerting to have the sound cut off just to twiddle something like number of episodes saved by a season pass. The on screen guide does not help you set up the remote to power on the A/V and TV together. I believe my old manual helped you do that, and in fact it works the same way as my old one. Boot time is WAY slow. The guy on the phone told me that this DirecTiVo caches 15 minutes back on live TV where the DirecTV DVR saved much more. So better get used to hitting record just in case if there is a chance you might want to record 30 minutes in. Well, I'm on 018A now at least.. I wonder what changed?

Mine also successfully downloaded the 018A update in the wee small hours of the morning, so they got it fixed and I am glad I was wrong (needing a new box, etc.). Pretty prompt response, but probably would not have happened without Stuart Sweet's help in greasing the skids, so to speak. So thanks there too.

Seems to be running fine. I did have some weird remote issues, in that the peanut was changing my HR23 too (or at least causing all sort of wacky things to happen), so I changed the peanut to an IR remote, and that seems to have done the trick. Also, if you have two boxes with the same main TV, as we do, you can't use the same code number (in this case Panasonic panel) or the remotes take over each machine. So by using a separate code (there are many to choose from) that issue also went away. Now, we have what I think is perfect (not really interested in multi-room or whole house at this point), my HR23, her THR22, and a nice new 50-inch Panny plasma with 3D (I know, sort of silly, but it can be fun) in the middle. Home viewing Nirvana attained.

I gave it a shot and nothing was changed. Still fighting to get the box to respond to the simplest request. I then went and set the remote to RF and it works. Click 'Select' and the first time it works. It stopped fighting me. I tried many functions and all seem to be responding like they should. Now I'll be able to enjoy the new tivo.

Good for you, that it worked. I only changed the remote to IR because it was also affecting my HR23, which is in the same entertainment unit. The peanut remote and the RC remotes will work on both boxes, so that can be a little weird when you think you are doing something on the THR22, and you see the lights blinking on the HR23. When you change inputs to the HR23, you find all sorts of mayhem has ensued. LOL. But now, it's all fixed. And both boxes are working as advertised.

I gave it a shot and nothing was changed. Still fighting to get the box to respond to the simplest request. I then went and set the remote to RF and it works. Click 'Select' and the first time it works. It stopped fighting me. I tried many functions and all seem to be responding like they should. Now I'll be able to enjoy the new tivo.

Thank You.

You might have some source of infrared interference in that room, such as an LCD TV backlight. Changing to RF mode is the easiest fix.

Started reading the horror stories about the FW update right while the tech was processing it - held my breath as we got to 90% and was relieved when it went to 95% and then 100% without a hitch. So it looks like I missed most of the fun as well.

The tech said it had to be updated out of the box and made me connect it to my network/internet even though I intended on sorting that out after he left. He said the update wouldn't process unless it was connected to the internet....

I was a little underwhelmed when I first saw the remote, but it's actually growing on me. I don't like the fingerprint finish on the outside of it - it's too slippery. But the fact that it does RF makes me like it a whole lot more.

I did a little toying around with my old silver peanut remote from my original Phillips DSR7000. It was not compatible. I also have a universal Yamaha remote (RAV324) for my surround sound receiver (RXN600), which used to be compatible with my Phillips. I tried every code in the Yamaha "List of Remote Control Codes" for DirecTV and Tivo - finally got very limited function with "11337." The universal remote used to be able to play, pause, fast forward, rewind, move up or down, change the channel up or down, and 'Enter' with the Phillips. Now with the new box, when I try to move up or down, it changes the channel up and down instead. And that's the only function I can get between the universal and the THR-22. Has anyone had success programming a universal remote to work with their box yet?

I ended up switching to RF mode which effectively ended the universal remote's strained relationship with the receiver. Since the universal doesn't seem to be compatible, I'll take the benefit of not having to point the remote at the receiver instead.

So far, the only real bug I noticed is the letterbox/paneling color keeps going gray when I set it to black. Especially after I'm flipping through On Demand or the Active channel menus. It goes back to black if reset the option. Other than that, the only thing that seems off is my Active Channel is 4:3 SD - I'm not sure if that's normal or not since I never had that feature until now.